Sweet and savory vanilla recipes

Michele Borboa, MS is a freelance writer and editor specializing in health, fitness, food, lifestyle, and pets. Michele is a health and wellness expert, personal chef, cookbook author, and pet-lover based in Bozeman, Montana. She is also...

Very vanilla but very complex

Vanilla is one of the most universally loved flavors and aromas. Considered aphrodisiacal, vanilla - in any form - is a go-to on Valentines Day and other romantic get-togethers. But vanilla is really quite ubiquitous around the clock. Its smooth intoxicating nuances are so prized, vanilla is used in many desserts and beverages as well as to scent candles and hair and skincare products. Moreover, vanilla can transform savory dishes into something extra special by accentuating some flavors and balancing others. Here are two savory vanilla-kissed recipes, ideal for a romantic dinner, plus one sweet vanilla sauce that will make dinner or dessert a succulent affair.

Vanilla recipes

Celebrating their centennial anniversary, the vanilla specialists at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas are sharing their most delicious vanilla recipes to show you the culinary versatility of vanilla — in bean, paste, extract and powder forms. The Nielsen-Massey Vanillas cookbook A Century of Flavor is a collection of family recipes and recipes from professional chefs, ranging from Vanilla Lobster Supreme with Pasta and Vanilla Sweet Potatoes to Vanilla Apple Pudding, CrÃ¨me Brulee and Vanilla Pastry Cream. No matter the meal or occasion, A Century of Flavor has the recipe — and many interesting vanilla nuggets — the history of vanilla, types of vanilla and more — that you can chew on during dinner. The following recipes are courtesy of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

Caramelized Pineapple Sauce

Makes 8 to 10 (3-tablespoon) servings If you don't have vanilla bean paste, you can use 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract. Ingredients: 1 small pineapple, peeled, eyes and core removed, diced small 1/4 cup clarified butter 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons pure vanilla bean paste Directions: Combine ingredients in a large saute pan. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes or until pineapple is tender and the brown sugar is caramelized. Serve warm over ice cream or pound cake. Note: To make clarified butter, melt unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat. Skim white milk solids off top. The butter remaining is clarified butter, which has a higher smoke point, making it less likely to burn. Ghee, available in Middle Eastern markets and the ethnic sections in grocery stores, is another form of clarified butter.